I am thinking of having some work completed on my boat by A and R Way Boat Building. They have a yard on the Crinan Canal. Does anyone have any experience of their work, or doing business with them, value for money. Any thoughts or comments?

Also, what other companies, or individuals are there around the area Firth of Clyde and Argyle area that could be engaged to complete joinery work on a boat e.g. galley doors, ply linings, mouldings, some template making and veneer repair / overlaying. Just the joinery, no varnishing or wiring work.

If an enterprising individual has skill and time and fancies working on my boat, I could be interested in engaging their services. Typical scope of work: fit existing galley doors (repair oversized hinge holes, new locks), make new galley doors from cutouts in new carcass (carcass installed), refit edgings, fit new ply panel linings over chart table and galley windows, stuff like that. I have most of the materials.

Aja wrote: .... Do you really need a boatbuilder for the work or a joiner? ....

No I don't need a boat builder just a good worker of wood that will give a quality finish. If I am going to pay I want a good job done, if it's not going to be good I may as well do it myself over time. A and R Way look to be good at fitting out as well as building.

My objective now is getting the work finished instead of saving money by doing it myself, the boats has been out the water too long.

Has anyone experience of 'John S. Hill Boatbuilders' from Fairlie, quality of wood work and reputation. I had him down at the boat and he was obviously knowledgeable and experienced. Just wondering if anyone has seen his work or has experience of him.

I had work done by Adam Way on my last boat. She had new bulwarks and he did a great job. I thoroughly recommend him and he's a great guy to boot.

The other person to consider is Graeme Allan of Sticks and String. He is loosely based in Barcaldine. I have got to know him over the last 2 years and have seen the high quality of his work and his (IMHO) reasonable prices. You can contact him at sticksandstring@hotmail.com.

BlowingOldBoots wrote:Has anyone experience of 'John S. Hill Boatbuilders' from Fairlie, quality of wood work and reputation. I had him down at the boat and he was obviously knowledgeable and experienced. Just wondering if anyone has seen his work or has experience of him.

Thanks,

Alastair

My brother's boat needed new washboards. He had a supply of some kind of hard wood and asked John S. Hill to make some washboards from it. The washboards were made, fitted and looked nice. However I think that John should have said that the wood supplied was unsuitable - it warps in warm weather and then straightens when it cools down. The actual work seemed OK - I just feel that advice should have ben given.

Does anyone know of a useful boaty handyman in or around the Scottish side of the Solway Firth area?

I've got my boat out of the water at Kippford, but due to working abroad and weather often being dodgy while I'm home, the list of jobs just gets longer. I would love to find someone who can do some of the jobs I'd like to do but never have time for. Honestly, I average about 3 days every 9 weeks when I can get some progress made.

Well, many beer tokens later, the joinery work is just about complete with A and R Way at his Cairnbaan yard. As usual more ugly stuff raised its head as work progressed so it had to be dealt with. I am very pleased with the work but to reduce overrun costs I will varnish myself, so I still have that to do.

Rewire is well underway and I hope to have the boat ready to move to Craobh Haven on Saturday, coming, although not all stuff will be completed.